Offinso College Principal lauds restoration of trainee allowances

The acting Principal of the Offinso College of Education has expressed appreciation to government for restoring teacher trainee allowances.
Mr. Daniel Adjei-Mensah revealed that, the allowance paid recently has saved the college from financial insolvency.
Speaking in an interview, he noted that, no student owe fees thus they are able to use its internally general funds for other developmental projects.
He, therefore, entreated teacher trainees to use the allowances judiciously to achieve the purpose for which they were restored.
The Offinso College of Education which was established by the Methodist Church Ghana in 1955 for the award of a two-year Teachers’ Certificate ‘B’ programme currently runs a three-year Diploma in Basic Education, a four-year Diploma in Basic Education- a distance programme for untrained teachers and a two-year Diploma in Basic Education for Certificate ‘A’ teachers through a distance learning module.
The vision for the establishment of the College is to create an excellent teaching and learning environment with opportunities for training quality basic school teachers who are imbued with the requisite knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to enhance quality education and proper training of human resources.
This vision is in pursuance of the mission to provide quality teachers who are trained to acquire excellent professional and relevant teacher training skills that would produce competent, dedicated, God-fearing and committed teachers whose performances, per the international standards, would be accepted by all.
Commenting on plans to expand the school, the acting Principal said a 7-member Development Committee have formulated a two-year development programme which is intended to culminate into a Strategic Plan with the prime focus to adopt the British programme, T-TEL which is sponsored by DFID.
Top on the priority list of Mr. Adjei-Mensah’s administration under the proposed strategic plan is to evolve 19 policies pending the approval of the College Council upon its establishment.
The policy would entail strategies on admission, assessment, gender inclusive financial management, research and development.
The new administration is working towards the establishment of an Endowment Fund to supplement the Internally Generated Fund (IGF).
Management, he said, would have to convince staff to donate to the fund as seed money.
Upon its establishment, contributions are envisaged to be sourced from students, chiefs, opinion leaders, religious leaders, old students, suppliers and financial institutions.
Mr. Adjei-Mensah’s administration intends to introduce Science and Mathematics programmes to the general programme.
He added that preparations are at the advanced stage to introduce the Science and Maths programmes by going through the requisite procedures with the University of Cape Coast.
As a result, the relevant course contents are being considered for adoption. In anticipation for approval of the proposed programs, the Science laboratories are being resourced through development levy from the students’ fees.
To achieve a fifty-fifty gender parity in enrolment, the College has established a Gender Advocate Centre following the drafting of a policy on admission and gender.
The College envisions to develop the skills and competencies of staff through professional development sessions by inviting facilitators from the universities at the beginning of every semester, to organize workshops and seminars for the staff, thus improving upon their academic and professional competencies.
Management also intends to renovate existing toilet facilities and upgrade them into a modern water closet at the males hall with College IGF. The masonry work will be done by the College mason which shall be supervised by the Municipal Chief Engineer.
According to Mr. Adjei-Mensah, the College has the vision of improving the road network at the College and would use part of the College’s IGF and GETFund allocation for 2017/18 academic year to reshape some streets that link the lecture halls, library and the science laboratories.
The College has already embarked on the renovation of administration block and classroom blocks and paving of walkways. It has also provided nine well furnished offices for departmental heads and a Mini-Conference room for departmental heads in the first phase of a two-storey block intended for ICT lab and Conference Hall.
The Conference Hall is meant to be rented out for social activities by members of the public as a means of generating income.
The College has provided 6 mechanized boreholes for the supply of potable water. Some dormitories have been reroofed and painted to stop leakages while razor wires have been provided to enhance security of especially, the female students.
A modern bathhouse estimated at GH¢ 189,200 is currently under construction. An amount of GHc76,400 has already been injected into the project.
Mr. Augustine Adjei, Dean of Student Affairs sees the ongoing development as great and commended the Acting Principal for his efforts.
The acting Principal was grateful for the cooperation of heads of department, staff and the Development Committee and emphasized that his intention is to make the College a place of excellent learning and create more opportunities for others.